Our Major Role As Lawmakers Is To Promote The Welfare Of Nigerians - Saraki's Speech At The Launching of LNUHC

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
NIGERIA, HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR (DR) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, AT THE
LAUNCHING OF THE LEGISLATIVE NETWORK FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE, ON
MONDAY 24TH JULY, 2017.

Protocols;

1. It gives me great pleasure to be here at this occasion for the
launching of the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage
(UHC). This platform is indeed remarkable as it aims to strengthen
institutional cooperation to advance legislative activities on health
matters.

2. The importance of this framework cannot be overstated, as our
major role as legislators is to promote the welfare of our citizens; to
ensure that effective healthcare systems are available to all Nigerians.
This informed the desire to draw in the cooperative efforts of both the
National and State Assemblies targeted at developing health strategies
that will work effectively for all. This for me is another rare
opportunity for us to ensure that legislative effort in both the
National and State Assemblies are moving towards the same direction.

3. I commend the respective Chairmen of the Senate and House
Committees on Health for uniting with leadership of Health Committees in
the States to create the Legislative Network for Universal Health
Coverage with the support of the Health Governance Group of USAID.

4. As it is said, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. In our
efforts to revive the wealth of our nation, the health of our people
must be paramount. We must therefore, strive to situate our health
resources to optimally serve our population.

5. As a nation, we have opted to adopt the Universal Health Coverage
which seeks “to ensure that all people obtain the health services they
need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them”.

6. The poor access to good healthcare in our country especially in
the rural areas is a challenge we must tackle through innovative
thinking and dedication. Going by a World Bank report, the state of
Nigeria health system is dysfunctional and grossly under funded with a
per capita expenditure of US$9.44. Therefore, addressing the issue in
financing healthcare in a sustainable manner to reach all Nigerians call
for the harmonization of legislative actions at both the National and
States levels.

7. While the overall objective of this submit is to launch a
national legislative Network on UHC, the knowledge base and
understanding of strategies in the legislature, geared towards achieving
the goals of Universal Health Coverage.

8. Finally, it is my hope that this framework will bring about the effective healthcare systems we envision for our country.

9. I wish you all success in your deliberations.

10.

Thank you and God bless us all.

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Source: New Media Department, Office of the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Our Major Role As Lawmakers Is To Promote The Welfare Of Nigerians - Saraki's Speech At The Launching of LNUHC
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